Obituary: Virgil LewisVirgil Eugene Lewis, 87, of Russellville died Monday, March 2, 2015, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. He was born Aug. 18, 1927, in Casa to James W. and Magie Holmes Lewis. He was a United States Army veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam and a member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church at Birta. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hideko Linda Lewis; a daughter, Patricia Kimzey; a brother, Jimmie Lewis; and sisters, Sue W...

Obituary: Georgene RosenwaldGeorgene Rosenwald, 82, of Russellville, formerly of McKees Rocks, Pa., passed away Monday, March 2, 2015, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. The daughter of George and Rosella Catherine Moose, she was born April 10, 1932, in McKees Rocks, Pa. She married Thomas Rosenwald on Oct. 14, 1949, at Gayly, Pa. Georgene was an accomplished singer, which she recorded two records. She was a life member of VFW auxiliary, American Legi...

News Briefs (March 4, 2015)American Legion Jamboree on Thursday The American Legion Jamboree will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion Hut across from the Depot. Classic Country will be the feature band. Historic District Commission meeting The Russellville Historic District Commission meeting originally scheduled for Thursday has been postponed. The meeting date and time will be announced at a later date. For more information, call (479) 968-2098. London Ele...

Bill to allow guns at bars, polling places, CapitolLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' gun-free zones would drastically shrink under a bill to allow concealed weapons at bars, churches, schools, polling locations, local government meetings, the state Capitol and other prohibited places. Republican Rep. Dan Sullivan of Jonesboro said Tuesday that his omnibus gun bill modifies various sections of state law to expand on places where people with concealed carry licenses can bring their weapons. The bill ...

Griffin backs lieutenant governor ballot changeLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin is supporting a lawmaker's push for his office to no longer be a separate elected position and instead have the state's No. 2 constitutional officer appear on the ballot as the governor's running mate. Griffin said Tuesday he supports a proposed constitutional amendment to have two people run jointly rather than appear separately on the ballot. The proposal by Republican Rep. Julie Mayberry woul...

Senate OKs relaxing rules on forming new districtsLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill easing restrictions on the creation of new school districts. By a 20-6 vote, the Senate approved and sent to the governor's desk a bill that would lower the amount of students a new district needs to splinter from an existing district. The legislation would lower the requirement from 4,000 students to 2,500. Supporters of the measure say it would allow Maumel...

Searcy police chief resigns; home searched by law officersSEARCY (AP) — The Searcy police chief has resigned after his home was searched by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Searcy Mayor David Morris told reporters at a brief news conference Tuesday afternoon that Police Chief Jeremy Clark resigned, effective immediately. Morris said he can't comment further because of an ongoing investigation. Clark denied wrongdoing and said he's the subject of an arson investigation....

House panel hears anti-abortion proposalsLITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas House panel has supported a proposal for tougher abortion pill restrictions but failed to advance a bill that would increase requirements for abortion providers. The bill approved Tuesday by the Health Committee would override local doctors and require abortion pill providers to follow dosage limits and other guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A bill that would require physicians who perform...

Group touts businesses promoting LGBT diversityLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A national group is touting more than 100 Arkansas businesses that it says are promoting diversity for gays and lesbians as it fights "conscience protection" legislation that critics say would justify discrimination. The Human Rights Campaign on Tuesday unveiled an "Equality is Our Business" program that's aimed at advancing protections in employment, housing and public accommodations. HRC said 106 primarily small businesses...

Revenue remains ahead of forecast for yearLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A boost in sales tax collections and lower than expected tax refunds last month helped keep Arkansas' revenue ahead of forecast, state finance officials said Tuesday. The state Department of Finance and Administration said the state's net available revenue in February totaled $218.3 million. That's $6.2 million above the same month last year and $14.3 million above forecast. The state's revenue for the fiscal year that began...

1 arrested for after shooting near Mayflower schoolCONWAY (AP) — Authorities say a man has been arrested for disorderly conduct after he and another man fired two shots near a high school in Mayflower. Chief Deputy Matt Rice of the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office says it appears the men had bought a new shotgun and wanted to test it outside a home Monday near Mayflower High School. He tells the Log Cabin Democrat they fired two shots into the air and went back inside. The sound of gunfire cau...

Texarkana board sets travel limits amid flapTEXARKANA (AP) — Members of the Texarkana, Ark., City Board approved a $1,200 limit on annual travel expenses for themselves after one member wanted to set the amount at $5,200. Director Laney Harris said at a Monday night meeting that he was being "persecuted" and that Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell had singled him out for the city's financial problems. After his proposal to set travel limits at $5,200 a year failed for lack of a second, the board ap...

Company donates $10M to Little Rock cancer centerLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company has donated $10 million to a cancer center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. The Celgene Corporation's contribution to the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy was announced Monday. The money will help create the Bart Barlogie Center for Molecular Diagnostics. It also will help establish the Celgene Distinguished Endowed Chair in Molecular Th...

State accepting applications for programThe Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) recently announced it will accept applications for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program. The Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program provides capital assistance in the form of discounted vehicles to agencies providing transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities. An electronic copy of the ...

Four Atkins students win DAR essay contestsATKINS — Atkins Middle School students swept the recent American History Essay Contest hosted by the Dardanelle Rock chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Reese Bixler, the winner in the fifth-grade division, was also named the winner of the state contest. He will be honored during an upcoming reception on at the Old State House in Little Rock. Emily Killer was awarded the winner in the sixth-grade division, and Reece Rooke was ...

Bond hearings (March 2, 2015)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear April 6 during Pope County Circuit Court. • Chad Thompson, 35, fraudulent practices — $100,000. On Thursday, a local pharmacy called the Russellville Police Department concerning Thompson, who was allegedly trying to pass a fraudulent prescrip...

Inclement weather won't delay opening of Dover Harps supermarketDespite some recent bouts of inclement weather, the Harps supermarket currently under construction at 8810 Market St. in Dover is still scheduled to open in late May, according to company spokesman Huey Couch. The new 22,500 square-foot Dover Harps will employ nearly 50 associates. It will feature a Harps Express fuel station with six gas pumps, Couch said. Harps Food Stores, Inc., operates 78 Harps and Price Cutter stores in northern and cent...

Assistant superintendent contracts renewedCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville Board of Education approved to renew two superintendents’ contracts during its meeting Feb. 23 at the high school media center. Following the recommendation of Superintendent David Hopkins, the board unanimously approved to renew the contracts of Toby Cook and Steven Wyatt. Assistant Superintendents Cook and Wyatt will have their contracts extended to the end of the 2016-17 school year. Wyatt has worked at the Cla...

Benefit ball raises $67,000 for community projectsThe Russellville Junior Auxiliary Children’s Benefit Ball, Cirque Gala, raised nearly $67,000 and was attended by more than 300 guests Saturday at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club. President Jennifer Samuels said the event was successful and well-received by the community. “We were thrilled with the turnout and dollars raised at the 2015 Children’s Benefit Ball,” Samuels said. “The support from the community for our organization has con...